Cue the 'Leaving Due to Family Obligations' Form Letter.

Seemingly oblivious to the fact that a tentpole of the GOP’s platform is its opposition to abortion, Michael Steele gave a GQ interview in which he engages in some candid but politically problematic equivocation on the issue.

How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your Catholic faith but by the fact that you were adopted?
Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that–I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it… Uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

Explain that.
The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.

Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

You do?
Yeah. Absolutely.

Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?
I think Roe v. Wade–as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?
The states should make that choice. That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

Ed Rendell, who himself once ran an opposition party lost in the wilderness, said that Steele was “basically toast.” And the Republican pitchforks are already out.

The sad thing is, this seems like a pretty moderate stance. If I recall correctly, the states rights thing is what a number of prominent Republicans have suggested as a fundamental problem with Roe v. Wade.

Anyway, looks like that vacuum of power ain’t going anywhere.

UPDATE: Oh, it gets better.

Do you think homosexuality is a choice?Oh, no. I don’t think I’ve ever really subscribed to that view, that you can turn it on and off like a water tap. Um, you know, I think that there’s a whole lot that goes into the makeup of an individual that, uh, you just can’t simply say, oh, like, “Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being gay.” It’s like saying, “Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being black.”

He’s gonna get shitcanned for saying something obviously sensible. But there’s no place for that in today’s GOP.